The European People's Party (EPP), the largest political group in the European Parliament, has adopted a resolution that frames Muslim civic engagement and collective religious practice as inherently suspect and a threat to democratic processes. The resolution, passed at the party's assembly in Vienna at the end of June, extends the approach of Germany's Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) on "political Islam" and echoes French conspiracy theories about "Islamist entryism."
The resolution, titled "Interference of Political Islam in European Democratic Processes," carries significant institutional weight as it comes from the party's presidency. Political scientists describe the EPP as a "German CDU/CSU-dominated empire-by-invitation," suggesting smaller parties seek German patronage.
The EPP's approach mirrors Germany's doctrine of "defensive democracy," which, since the post-Nazi era, has been used to protect the democratic order against totalitarian movements. This doctrine reverses the presumption of innocence for Muslims, allowing for the dissolution of institutions and confiscation of wealth based on alleged ideologies.
The resolution emphasizes individual rights over collective claims, a formulation that critics argue leaves the collective expression of Islam unprotected and undermines religious freedom. It defines "entryism" as a gradual infiltration of institutions to promote a fundamentalist interpretation of religion, using a "double discourse" to appear compatible with democratic principles while pursuing a counter-agenda.
The EPP suggests this is a global issue, citing "meddling in democratic procedures" by Russia and China, and pledges to coordinate with parties in regions like MENA and the Western Balkans. It specifically names the Muslim Brotherhood and its affiliated associations as examples of entryism. This aligns with documented Emirati covert operations aimed at legitimizing the UAE's designation of the Muslim Brotherhood as a "terrorist organization."
The resolution builds on precedents like Austria's "Islam Map," which plotted Muslim associations, and the proposed monitoring of "undesirable foreign funding" from actors promoting an "illiberal agenda." It also calls for "further academic research" into political Islam.
Anti-racist organizations have already felt the impact of this discourse. In June, Fabrice Leggeri, a far-right French MEP, alleged that the European Network Against Racism (Enar) was close to the Muslim Brotherhood, an allegation Enar rejected as baseless. Leggeri sought Enar's exclusion from a meeting on the European Anti-Racism Strategy, which critics argue delegitimizes anti-racism advocacy.
